Method and apparatus for generating video for a viewing system from multiple video elements

ABSTRACT

A video processing system located at a remote location such as a TV broadcasting station or an Internet media server stores a plurality of video elements at that are delivered to a viewing system located at a viewer&#39;s premises. The video processing system is capable of receiving a selection request comprising two or more video elements or subsets thereof, wherein the subsets are regions of interest or portions of the corresponding video elements. The video processing system constructs a custom video by combining them based on the viewer&#39; selection and using the region of interest that are provided, and forwards the custom video to the viewing system. Billing based on record of usage is also supported for the custom video.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a video processing system for videoprocessing, and more particularly for customizing videos delivered bythe video processing system based on input from a viewer at a viewingsystem.

2. Description of the Related Art

Video editing systems which combine two or more videos taken from avideo repository are available in market. These systems can switchbetween videos, wherein the videos are edited to be combined, withsimple cut-and-paste to create transitions. Some of them can takemultiple video feeds from video cameras and make transitions between thevideo feeds, where effects such as dissolves, wipes can be used tosmooth the transitions. The output is actually multiple sequences ofvideo from the video sources that are cut and pasted together to createa combined sequence. Such combinations are trivial and quite often thetransitions are jerky and abrupt.

Some video editing systems can freeze a frame while playing a video feedand, after a time, can perform a transition to a new video feed. It caneven hold the frozen frame through the transition. In all the abovecases, the final combined video delivered to a viewer can have a limitedrange of variations depending on the limited number of effects built inthe video editing systems.

It is often possible to subscribe to multiple cable TV and satellite TVchannels. However, for the most part, only one channel at a time can beviewed. In some picture-in-picture based TV systems, one channel can beviewed in full screen while a portion of the TV screen is occupied by adisplay of a second channel in a smaller frame. However, both channelsare viewed simultaneously in full, if the picture-in-picture is turnedon. Due to the overlay portions of the display of the main channel islost behind the smaller frame that displays the second channel.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artthrough comparison of such systems with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the present invention to be easily understood and readily practiced,various embodiments will now be described, for purposes of illustrationand not limitation, in conjunction with the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a video processingsystem according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of constructing a customvideo from a plurality of video elements; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of creating andstoring a record of usage for the combined videos according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a video processingsystem 103 that constructs a single custom video from portions or all ofvideos selected from a plurality of video elements stored in the videoprocessing system 103, the portions or all of videos selected as perinput from a viewing system 105. The video processing system 103includes a storage system 113, a communication interface 111, aprocessing circuit 131 and an authentication system 133. The videoprocessing system 103 stores a plurality of video elements such as 115,117, 119 in the storage system 113. The plurality of video elements are,for example, a video part of a television channel, a portion of a livevideo program, a video game, a stored video, and a stored picture.

The processing circuit 131 is communicatively coupled to thecommunication interface 111 and to the storage system 113. Theprocessing circuit 131 receives selection requests from the viewingsystem 105 via the communication interface 111. The selection requestsare made by a viewer who interacts with the viewing system 105, via aviewer interface, such as a remote control. The video processing system103 further includes a list of definitions 109. The authenticationsystem 133 authenticates the viewing system 105 and subsequently theprocessing circuit 131 sends the plurality of video elements,115,117,119 and the list of definitions 109 to the viewing system 105.The selection requests received from the viewing system 105 include aselection of the portion of the at least one of the plurality of videoelements and the portion or all of the at least one other of theplurality of video elements. The selection requests further includedefinitions of selected portions of selected video elements. Thedefinitions of the selected portions of selected video elements, suchas, 121, 123 are stored in the storage system 113. The definitions ofthe selected portions are chosen from the list of definitions 109. Thedefinitions of the selected portions are, for example, sizes, shapes,positions on a video screen 107 of the viewing system 105, resolutionsand brightness of the selected portions. The processing circuit 131constructs the custom video by combining the selected portions of theselected video elements and delivers the custom video to the viewingsystem 105.

In one embodiment, the viewing system 105 is a the media player thatplays a combined video that is received from a video processing system103 (a video source), such as a TV broadcasting system capable ofbroadcasting a plurality of TV channels, each with region of interestinformation. The media player 105 also receives streaming media from anInternet server, stored media from a personal video recorder (PVR),cable TV received by a set-top-box (STB), multimedia from a local mediaserver, and movies from a DVD player.

The video processing system 103, when located at a broadcasting stationor an Internet server interacts with the viewing system 105, such as amedia player or a home entertainment system, located at a viewer's home.The video processing system 103 is able to provide a plurality of videoelements that a viewer can choose from to view on his viewing system105, for example, on his media player or home entertainment system. Thevideo processing system 103 includes the storage system 113 to store theplurality of video elements, the storage systems 113 can be streamingmedia servers, multimedia repositories, etc. The communication interface111 is used to communicate the video elements and associated informationto the viewing system 105, and it supports interactions over one or moreprotocols, in order to facilitate transfer of streaming media, menus,catalogs, security information, rights objects, etc.

The processing circuit 131 is communicatively coupled to thecommunication interface 111 and to the storage system 113, and iscapable of creating a combined output from one or more video elements ordelivering one previously created and stored. The processing circuit 131is capable of processing viewer adjustments to the displaycharacteristics to the combined output viewed by the viewer on a displayunit such as the video screen 107. In other embodiments, the processingcircuit 131 is capable of receiving user selections and user requestsand communicating them, if necessary, to other video processing systems,and receiving from them a combined video which it then further processesbefore delivering to the viewing systems 105. The processing circuit 131responds to the viewer's selection requests received from the viewingsystem 105 via the communication interface 111 by generating a customvideo from one or more portions of one or more video elements. Suchcustom video is then delivered to the viewing system 105 and the viewercan view them on one or more displays, such as the video screen 107.

In accordance with the present invention, a viewer can view a list ofavailable video elements while sitting in his room and make a request ofvideo elements, or create a customized video for delivery, or selectfrom a menu or catalog of composite videos for delivery. These compositevideos are preconfigured and pre-selected combinations of portions ofvideos from one or more video elements, perhaps even from one or morevideo sources. For example, the viewer can view a list of available TVprograms on a website associated with a cable TV station while sittingin his room and make a request of specific TV channels, or create acustomized video for delivery that incorporates portions of videoelements from one or more TV channels, or select from a menu or catalogof composite TV program selections for delivery. Such composite TVprogram selections can, for example, be a combination of a scrollingstock ticker tape from a stock market channel, a scrolling news reportfrom a cable news channel, both of them incorporated and displayed overa sports channel broadcasting a live program of a baseball game. Thelocation, shape, size and other characteristics for the incorporation ofthe portions of video elements that are combined into another channelmay be preset of may be specified by a user in a custom configuration.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible for a cable TV system toprovide a custom video to a viewer with a viewing system 105, which maybe a media player or an entertainment system, for example. In addition,it enables a media server 103 on the Internet to provide customizedvideo based on one or more media elements. An user can download anEnglish movie, for example, and get customized delivery of a Frenchsubtitle that would not be typically delivered for that English movie.And also have a stock ticker from a stock market channel delivered alongwith it for the duration of the movie. A billing might be involved forsuch customized delivery, if some of these video elements are not‘free’. In addition, the user can have the English movie streamed anddelivered for viewing, with the English audio parts (voice) replaced byan equivalent French (or other) language replacement audio components,along instead of French subtitles. This would involve combining anEnglish or French or another language audio component with a videocomponent that is generic to all language support, such combinationconducted by the video processing system 103 prior to delivery to theviewer's viewing system 105.

Thus, the viewer can browse and choose, from a plurality of selections(such as an online catalog). The viewer selects every video element theviewer needs. The remote side constructs customized video for theviewer. The viewer system 105 may include but is not limited to a TV orset-top-box with a TV that receives the customized video delivered anddisplays it. If, for example, the view system 105 is capable of furtherfacilitating customized video delivery and selections of video elements,then the viewer can further browse and select and configure customizedvideo delivery from the viewing system, media player, set-top-box, TV orentertainment system at home.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system of FIG. 1 showing communication path between avideo processing system 203 and a viewing system 205. The viewing system205 includes a video screen 231, a communication interface (IF) 233, aninput interface (Input I/F) 239, a display interface 249. The inputinterface 239 provides for one or more modes of input that a viewer canemploy to select media elements, configure combined video outputs, etc.For example, input interface 239 includes buttons 241, a touchpad 242, apen interface 243, a mouse 245 and a voice interface 246, any of whichmay be used to specify viewer inputs.

The viewing system 205 receives a list of definitions 215 from the videoprocessing system 203. The viewer can review this list and select fromit. The viewing system 205 can also cave it locally. The communicationpath 207 between the video processing system 203 and the viewing system205 may include for example, one or more of an Internet connection 251,an Intranet link 253, a direct link 257 and a wireless link 259.

The viewing system 205 may be a media player that is capable ofreceiving combined media elements and displaying them on the videoscreen 231. It may facilitate selection by the viewer, via the inputinterface 239, of one of several available combined video outputs,wherein the viewer can resize, reshape, highlight or relocate specificregions of interest or specific identifiable portions of the combinedvideo provided to it for display.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system of FIG. 2 further providing viewer invoicingsupport for the custom video generation functionality. The videoprocessing system 303 is located at a first premises 371, the viewingsystem 305 is located at a second premises 373 and a billing system 307is located at a third premises 375. The video processing system 303 hasan accounting support system 321 that is communicatively coupled to theprocessing circuit 317. The accounting support system 321 keeps a recordof usage of the selected video elements by the video processing systemto generate the custom video, 323. When the combined video is deliveredto the viewing system 305, the record of usage (or a charge detailrecord) is forwarded to the billing system 307 via the communicationinterface 311. The billing system 307 generates an invoice for theviewer which is communicated online or by postal means to the viewer.

The invoices can be sent periodically (once a month, for example) orimmediately after the viewer views a combined video that includes aportion of a pay-per-view media element or a media element that is notfree. In another embodiment, a prepaid card is used by the viewer to payfor such combined videos. The prepaid card or a credit card may beplugged into a prepaid card reader or a credit card reader attached tothe viewing system. The amount associated with the combined video isdeducted from the prepaid card or changed to the credit card by atransaction conducted by the viewing system with the billing system 307.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system of FIG. 3 further providing access to anadditional plurality of video elements from a video sourcing system 409.The video sourcing system 409 is communicatively coupled to the videoprocessing system 403 and is located at the third premises 463. Thevideo sourcing system is one or more of a television broadcastingsource, a service provider's central office, a video camera thatprovides video live online, a photo camera providing online pictures orstored pictures, an Internet server capable of providing streamingmultimedia and a video repository.

The viewer can browse through a catalog of these additional mediaelements, such as for example, from a website, and incorporate them intothe video streams available from the video processing 403. A combinedvideo incorporating such additional video elements are then created bythe video processing system 403 for delivery to one or more mediaplayers or viewing systems. The additional plurality of video elementsfrom a video sourcing system 409 may be billed separately (or together)when combined with video elements provided by the video processingsystem 403.

The viewing system 405 receives a list of definitions 415 from the videoprocessing system 403. The viewer can review this list and select fromit. The viewing system 405 can also save it locally. The communicationpath 406 between the video processing system 403 and the viewing system405 may include for example, one or more of an Internet connection 451,an Intranet link 453, a direct link 457 and a wireless link 459.

In one embodiment, the video processing system 403 is a videobroadcasting system that provides a TV programming that is combined witha news oriented ticker tape provided by a cable news channel. Inaddition, the video sourcing system 409 provides online videos for abaseball game that can be combined with the video elements of the TVprogramming that is provided by the video processing system 403 for anominal cost. Alternatively, it provides another scrolling ticker tapeof the scores and game action that can be incorporated into other liveprograms or TV channel broadcasts. The viewer can choose one of thesemodes or video elements and have them incorporated into the TVprogramming or a combined video provided by the video processing system403.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of thevideo processing system where the storage system 515 is located at afirst premises 503, the viewing system 517 is located at a secondpremises 505, the video sourcing system 519 is located at a thirdpremises 507 and the billing system 521 is located at a fourth premises509. The video processing system 511 is communicatively coupled to thestorage system 515, the viewing system 517, the video sourcing system519 and the billing system 521.

The storage system 515 facilitates creating, and storing browsing acatalog entry and a configuration information for each preconfiguredcombined video that a viewer can browse through and select. The viewerselected combined videos may be a preconfigured set of media elementsand associated configuration and metadata information (including videodisplay characteristics). When selected and activated by the viewer, thecombined video is generated and delivered for viewing by the viewer bythe video processing system 511, for a prefixed duration or until theviewer terminates the delivery of the combined video, or as determinedby a schedule.

The viewing system 517 receives a list of definitions 553 from the videoprocessing system 511. The viewer can review this list and select fromit. The viewing system 517 can also save it locally. The communicationpath 513 between the video processing system 511 and the viewing system517 may include for example, one or more of an Internet connection 561,an Intranet link 563, a direct link 565 and a wireless link 567.

In one embodiment, the storage system 515 is used to store the list ofdefinitions 553 associated with preconfigured combined videos that aviewer can select and view. The list of definitions can be retrieved,stored locally and modified under viewer guidance by the viewing system517. In addition, an optional schedule is associated with thepreconfigured combined videos the generation and/or delivery of thecombined video is conducted as per the schedule.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of constructing a customvideo from a plurality of video elements by a video processing system asper input from a viewing system through interaction with the viewingsystem, in accordance with the present invention. The method starts at astart block 603. The video processing system stores the plurality ofvideo elements such as TV video, recorded video, a video games andphotos, at block 605. When at this block there are several events (notshown) that cause a transition to the next block 607, such as selectionby a viewer of a video part of a TV channel, selection of a pre-recordedvideo, selection of a video game, selection of a photo, etc.

At the next block 607, the video processing system authenticates theviewing system at block 607. If the authentication fails, then theprocessing ends at the next block 611. Otherwise, on successfulauthentication, the video processing system forwards the plurality ofvideo elements and a list of definitions to the viewing system at thenext block 613. It awaits selection requests from viewing system at thenext block 615. When it receives a viewer's selection requests, ittransitions to the next block 619.

At the block 619, the viewing system stores the selection requestsreceived from the viewing system. The selection requests received fromthe viewing system includes a selection of the portion of the at leastone video element, such as a TV channel video stream, and a portion orall of another video element, such as another TV channel video stream.The video processing system identifies the videos selected from theplurality of video elements in block 621 using the selection requests.The selection requests further include definitions of selected portionsof selected video elements, dimensions of display, shapes for displayingmedia elements, brightness levels, and other display characteristicsassociated with a display unit, such as a TV, and media element relatedcharacteristics.

The video processing system then identifies definitions, for e.g.,dimensions, positions, resolutions, shapes, brightness of the selectedportions of the selected video elements using the selection requests atthe next block 623. It then constructs the custom video by combining theselected portions in a next block 625 and forwards the custom video(that is a combined video based on viewer selections) to the viewingsystem in the next block 627. Then, processing returns to the next block607 where the next viewer request is awaited.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operations of creating andstoring a record of usage for the combined videos comprising a pluralityof video elements that a viewer receives, and the subsequentcommunication of the record of usage to a billing system performed bythe video processing system of FIG. 6, according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. Processing commences at the block 703 when thevideo processing system sends videos and a list of definitions such as atv channel, video camera, Internet and Photo camera for example, to theviewing system (as also disclosed in a description for the block 613 inFIG. 6). The processing that occurs prior to the processing at the block703 are similar to, and have been described for, the blocks 603 to 613for FIG. 6 above.

Transition from the block 703 to the next block 705, where the videoprocessing system awaits a selection request from the viewing system,occurs when a video element selected by a viewer is sent to the viewingsystem. The video element may be a TV channel video data selected byuser, a live video from a video camera (such as those from a baseballmatch), a media element from an Internet based multimedia server, aphoto picture (such as those from a camera), etc.

At the next block 705, the selection requests from the user are awaited.When it receives a viewer's selection requests, it transitions to thenext block 709 where the viewer's selected videos and portions selectedfrom them (such as regions of interest selected when a plurality ofregions of interest are presented along with the media element) areidentified. The selected videos includes a selection of the portion ofthe at least one video element, such as a TV channel video stream or alive streaming media of a baseball match, etc., and a portion or all ofanother video element, such as another TV channel video stream. Then, ata next block 711, the viewing system stores the selection requestsreceived from the viewing system.

At the next block 713 the selected portions of selected videos from theviewer's selection request are identified for processing. The selectionrequests may also include definitions of selected portions of selectedvideo elements, dimensions of display, shapes for displaying mediaelements, brightness levels, and other display characteristicsassociated with a display unit, such as a TV, and media element relatedcharacteristics. The video processing system then identifiesdefinitions, for e.g., dimensions, positions, resolutions, shapes,brightness of the selected portions of the selected video elements usingthe selection requests.

At the next block 715, the custom video is created by combining theselected portions. The processing circuitry of the video processingcircuit employs region of interest analysis techniques, video layerreplacement techniques, video layer masking techniques, video layerhighlighting techniques, object recognition techniques, objectreplacement techniques, video mixing techniques, etc., as necessary, increating the custom video.

At the next block 717, the custom video (that is a combined video basedon viewer selections) is communicated/delivered to the viewing systemand a usage record associated with the custom video is stored. Then, ata next block 719, the record of usage or a charge detail record createdfrom it is communicated to a billing system for optional billing. Thebilling system may be external to the video processing system and to theviewing system.

Then, processing returns to the next block 607 where the next viewerrequest is awaited. Then control returns to the block 707 where the nextrequest is awaited. Thus, in accordance to the present invention, thevideo processing system generates the custom video and stores the recordof usage for the selected video elements. The record of usage is sent toa billing system for billing purposes.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the term“communicatively coupled”, as may be used herein, includes wireless andwired, direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component,element, circuit, or module. As one of average skill in the art willalso appreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupledto another element by inference) includes wireless and wired, direct andindirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as“communicatively coupled”.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention.

One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functionalbuilding blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and componentsherein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components,application specific integrated circuits, processors executingappropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity andunderstanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the presentinvention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to oneof average skill in the art that various changes and modifications maybe practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A video processing system located at a first premises that interactswith a viewing system located at a second premises, the video processingsystem comprising: a plurality of video elements; a storage system thatstores the plurality of video elements; a communication interface; and aprocessing circuit that is communicatively coupled to the communicationinterface and to the storage system, wherein the processing circuitresponds to selection requests received from the viewing system via thecommunication interface by generating custom video from a portion of atleast one of the plurality of video elements and from at least a portionof at least one other of the plurality of video elements, and whereinthe processing circuit delivers the custom video to the viewing systemvia the communication interface.
 2. The video processing systemaccording to claim 1, the processing circuit sends the plurality ofvideo elements to the viewing system via the communication interface. 3.The video processing system according to claim 1, the selection requestsreceived from the viewing system includes a selection of the portion ofthe at least one of the plurality of video elements and the portion orall of the at least one other of the plurality of video elements.
 4. Thevideo processing system according to claim 3, the selection requestsreceived from the viewing system further include definitions of selectedportions of selected video elements.
 5. The video processing systemaccording to claim 4, further comprising a list of definitions, whereinthe list of definitions are forwarded to the viewing system via thecommunication interface for selection by a viewer.
 6. The videoprocessing system according to claim 5, wherein the storage systemstores the list of definitions and wherein the list of definitions canbe retrieved by the viewing system.
 7. The video processing systemaccording to claim 5, wherein the definitions of the selected portionsare chosen from the list of definitions.
 8. The video processing systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the definitions of the selected portionsincludes sizes of the selected portions of the selected video elements.9. The video processing system according to claim 4, wherein thedefinitions of the selected portions includes shapes of the selectedportions of the selected video elements.
 10. The video processing systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the definitions of the selected portionsincludes positions of the selected portions of the selected videoelements on a screen of the viewing system.
 11. The video processingsystem according to claim 2, further comprising an authentication systemthat authenticates the viewing system and wherein the processing circuitsends the plurality of video elements to the viewing system after theviewing system is authenticated.
 12. The video processing systemaccording to claim 4, further comprising: an accounting support systemthat is communicatively coupled to the processing circuit; wherein theaccounting support system keeps a record of usage of the selected videoelements by the video processing system to generate the custom video,and forwards the record to a billing system via the communicationinterface.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the billingsystem is located at a third premises.
 14. The video processing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the plurality of video elements areprovided by a video sourcing system that is communicatively coupled tothe video processing system and located at a remote location.
 15. Amethod performed by a video processing system located at a firstpremises of generating video for a viewing system located at a secondpremises based on viewer interaction, the method comprising: storing aplurality of video elements at the first premises; receiving a selectionof at least two of the plurality of video elements from the viewingsystem; constructing a custom video by combining the at least two of theplurality of video elements of the selection; and forwarding the customvideo to the viewing system.
 16. The method according to claim 15, thesecond premises is at a remote location from the first premises.
 17. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein receiving the selection from theviewing system is preceded by authenticating the viewing system; andforwarding the plurality of video elements stored at the first premisesto the viewing system after successful authentication of the viewingsystem.
 18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:defining portions of the at least two of the plurality of video elementswherein the portions are chosen by a viewer where the viewer interactswith viewing system.
 19. The method according to claim 18, whereinconstructing the custom video includes: identifying the at least two ofthe plurality of video elements using the selection received from theviewing system; combining the portions of the at least two of theplurality of video elements chosen by the viewer to generate the customvideo.
 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein receiving theselection from the viewing system is preceded by sending a list ofdefinitions to the viewing system.
 21. The method according to claim 20,wherein the definitions of the portions of the at least two of theplurality of video elements are selected from the list of definitionssent to the viewing system.
 22. The method according to claim 15 whereinthe plurality of video elements are received by the video processingsystem from a video sourcing system located at a third premises.
 23. Themethod according to claim 15, further comprising: maintaining a recordof usage of the plurality of video elements by the viewing system; andsending the record to a billing system that generates a bill for theviewer using the record.
 24. The method according to claim 23, whereinthe billing system is located at a fourth premises.